Carrier apparatus, accessory carrier kit, and method of using same

ABSTRACT

An accessory carrying apparatus can include a central body region including a magnetic material for receiving and attaching a magnet thereon. A first aperture region defines a first aperture, and a second aperture region defines a second aperture. An accessory comprising a magnet can be received on and releasably attached to the central body region of the carrying apparatus. The first and second apertures can receive a shoelace for attaching to a shoe, and the accessory carried by the apparatus can be a golf ball marker.

TECHNICAL FIELD

1. Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable device for carrying an item thereon, in which the item can be readily removed and reattached to the carrying device. One embodiment of the invention comprises a portable device that can be attached to the shoestrings of a golf shoe, and a magnet for attaching a golf ball marker comprised of a magnetic material. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/313,145, filed Nov. 17, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

Golf ball markers are commonly used in golf to enable a golfer to mark the current spot of his ball on the course so that the ball can be temporarily removed from the green to allow another player to putt with an unobstructed path to the hole, and avoid one ball striking another. After the other player has successfully completed the hole, the golfer places his ball back at the original spot as has been marked on the green using the ball marker and picks up the marker to be used again on subsequent holes. As such, there is a need for devices that provide a convenient means for carrying the ball markers as the golfer plays the course.

2. Summary of the Invention

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a convenient means for carrying a golf ball marker. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying accessories made of magnetic material.

These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved in the preferred embodiments of the invention described below, in which one embodiment comprises an accessory carrying kit comprising a carrier apparatus comprising a central body region comprising a magnetic material for receiving and attaching a magnet thereon, a first aperture region defining a first aperture, and a second aperture region defining a second aperture.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the kit includes an accessory comprising a magnet, whereby the central body region receives and releasably attaches to the accessory.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the accessory can be a golf ball marker.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the golf ball marker is substantially circular, and the central body region of the carrier apparatus is substantially circular.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the golf ball marker has a diameter slightly less than a diameter of the central body region.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the central body region is substantially circular, the first aperture region and the second aperture region are attached to the central body region, and the first and second aperture regions are positioned about one hundred degrees from each other on the central body region.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first aperture region defines a substantially oval bore, and the second aperture region defines a substantially oval bore.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first aperture comprises a first bore, and the second aperture comprises a second bore, and the bores can be substantially oval or substantially circular.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first aperture region and the second aperture region are comprised of polyvinyl chloride, and the central body region comprises polyvinyl chloride and includes a top surface comprised of a magnetic material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an accessory carrying kit comprises a carrier apparatus comprising a central body region comprising a magnet, a first aperture region defining a first aperture, and a second aperture region defining a second aperture.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the kit includes an accessory comprising a magnetic material, so that the accessory is received by and releasably attached to the central body region.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the accessory can be a golf ball marker comprised of magnetic material, so that the golf ball marker is received by and releasably attached to the central body region.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the central body region is substantially circular, the first aperture region and the second aperture region are attached to the central body region, and the first aperture region is positioned about one hundred degrees on the central body region from the second aperture region.

According to another embodiment of the invention, first aperture region can define a substantially oval bore, and the second aperture region can define a substantially oval bore.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first aperture region and the second aperture region, and central body region can be made of polyvinyl chloride. The central body region has a top surface, and the magnet is positioned on the top surface of the central body region for receiving and releasably attaching to a magnetic accessory.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of carrying a golf ball marker includes providing a carrier apparatus comprising a central body region having a magnetic material on the top surface, a first aperture region defining a first aperture, and a second aperture region defining a second aperture. A golf ball marker comprising a magnet is provided. The ball marker is positioned on the top surface of the central body region, so that the ball marker can magnetically attach to the magnetic material on the top surface of the central body region. A shoelace with first and second ends is provided for lacing into shoelace holes of a shoe. The first end of the shoelace is positioned over the top surface of the first aperture region and into the first aperture, and extends across the bottom surface of the central body region. The first end of the shoelace is positioned across the bottom surface of the second aperture region and into the second aperture, and inserted into a first shoelace hole of the shoe. The second end of the shoelace is inserted into a second hole of the shoe.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the ball marker can be removed from the central body region of the carrier apparatus for marking the location of a golf ball on a golf course, and reattached to the central body region after use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an accessory carrier kit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an environmental perspective view of the kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the kit of FIG. 1 taken along line 3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an environmental view illustrating a method of using a component of the kit of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Best Mode

An accessory carrier kit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, and shown generally at reference numeral 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the kit 10 includes a carrier apparatus 11 and a releasably attachable accessory 30. The carrier 11 comprises a substantially circular central body section 12, and two aperture sections 14, 16 positioned approximately one hundred eighty degrees from each other on the central body section 12. Each aperture section 14, 16 defines an aperture 24, 26, respectively, therein. As used throughout this application, the term “aperture” refers generally to any opening, void, hole, gap, cavity, slit, bore, enclosure or the like, and includes openings that are partially or completely enclosed within the aperture sections 14, 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the apertures 24, 26 defined by the aperture sections 14, 16 can be substantially oval shaped bores 24, 26, respectively, formed through the aperture sections 14, 16. Alternatively, the bores 24, 26 can have other shapes, such as circular, triangular and square. The aperture sections 14, 16 are preferably made of polyvinyl chloride or other suitable materials.

Alternatively, the interior area of the bores 24, 26 can have retention features formed thereon to increase resistance to a shoelace or string passing therethrough. Such retention features can include grooves, ridges, rough edges, raised teeth or other protuberances.

The central body section 12 is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride or other suitable materials, except for a top surface 18 that is comprised of a magnetic material. As used throughout this application, “magnetic material” refers to any material such as iron, nickel or cobalt, that is attracted to a magnet. As shown in FIG. 1, a magnetized accessory 30 is received in the top surface 18 of the central body section 12, and attaches magnetically thereto. The accessory 30 can be a golf ball marker comprised of a substantially flat and circular magnet 30. The golf ball marker 30 preferably has a diameter slightly less than or greater than the diameter of the central body section 12. Preferably, the ball marker 30 conforms to United States Golf Association rules. It should be noted that while in this particular embodiment of the invention 10 the accessory 30 comprises a golf ball marker, the invention is not so limited, and the accessory 30 can be various items, such as jewelry, coins, emblems and the like.

In a preferred method of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the carrier 11 can be used to carry the golf ball marker 30 on a golfer's shoe 40. As shown in FIG. 3, a shoelace 42 is inserted over the top surface of the first aperture section 14 and into the first bore 24, pulled across the bottom surface 19 of the central body section 12 and the second aperture section 16, and inserted up into the second bore 26, exiting over the top surface of the second aperture section 16. The carrier 11 thus attached on the shoelace 42, the shoelace 42 can be laced onto the shoe with one end of the shoelace 42 being inserted into a first shoelace hole 44 of the shoe 40, and the other end of the shoelace 42 inserted into a second shoelace hole 46 of the shoe, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The top surface 18 of the central body section 12 faces up and away from the shoe 40.

When the user desires to mark the location of his golf ball, the marker 30 can be removed from the central body section 12 of the carrier 11, and placed proximate the location on the golf ball 50 on the golf green, as shown in FIG. 4. When the marker 30 is no longer needed on the green, the marker 30 can be picked up by the user and reattached to the central body region 12 of the carrier 11. This provides a convenient means for transporting the ball marker 30, since the marker 30 is positioned on the user's shoe 40 which is proximate to the ground where the marker 30 is to be used. Alternatively, the carrier kit 10 can include a global positioning satellite (GPS unit) feature. For example, the marker 30 can include a GPS unit that communicates with GPS technology on the golf course to show the user how far he is from a particular hole.

It should be noted that while the carrier 11 is described in the above method as being attached to a shoe 40 via shoelaces 42, the invention is not so limited, and the carrier 11 can be used with other items, such as drawstrings or cords on sweatshirts and like apparel, and necklaces, bracelets, bands and other like items worn on the body.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the central body region 12 of the carrier can include a magnet positioned on the top surface 18, and the accessory 30 can be a golf ball marker, jewelry, emblem, coin or other item made of a magnetic material. The structure of this alternative embodiment can be otherwise the same as the previously described embodiment.

In another embodiment of the invention in which the accessory 30 comprises jewelry or emblems, the carrier kit can be marketed specifically to children who can collect various jewelry or emblem designs, and trade them with each other. For example, children may trade each other's accessories 30 and wear them for a period of time on their own carrier apparatus 11 as a symbol of friendship. Also, a single carrier kit can comprise multiple accessories having various designs for collecting and trading.

An accessory carrier kit and a method of using same are described above. Various changes can be made to the invention without departing from its scope. For example, while a preferred embodiment of the invention is described above as being used to carry a golf ball marker, the invention is not so limited, and can be used to carry a variety of items, such as jewelry, coins, emblems and the like. The above description of the preferred embodiments and best mode of the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation—the invention being defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. An accessory carrier kit comprising a carrier apparatus comprising: (a) a central body region comprising a magnetic material for receiving and attaching a magnet thereon; (b) a first aperture region defining a first aperture; and (c) a second aperture region defining a second aperture.
 2. A kit according to claim 1, further comprising an accessory comprising a magnet, whereby the central body region receives and releasably attaches to the accessory.
 3. A kit according to claim 2, wherein the accessory comprises a golf ball marker.
 4. A kit according to claim 3, wherein the golf ball marker is substantially circular, and the central body region is substantially circular.
 5. A kit according to claim 4, wherein the golf ball marker has a diameter slightly less than a diameter of the central body region.
 6. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the central body region is substantially circular, the first aperture region and the second aperture region are attached to the central body region, and the first aperture region is positioned about one hundred degrees on the central body region from the second aperture region.
 7. A kit according to claim 6, wherein the first aperture region defines a substantially oval bore, and the second aperture region defines a substantially oval bore.
 8. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture comprises a first bore, and the second aperture comprises a second bore.
 9. A kit according to claim 6, wherein the first bore and the second bore have a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially oval and substantially circular.
 10. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture region and the second aperture region are comprised of polyvinyl chloride, and the central body region comprises polyvinyl chloride and includes a top surface comprised of a magnetic material.
 11. A kit according to claim 1, further comprising a global positioning satellite unit adapted for communicating distances to holes on a golf course.
 12. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the accessory is selected from one of the group consisting of jewelry and emblems, and is adapted for children to exchange.
 13. An accessory carrier kit comprising a carrier apparatus comprising: (a) a central body region comprising a magnet; (b) a first aperture region defining a first aperture; and (c) a second aperture region defining a second aperture.
 14. A kit according to claim 13, further comprising an accessory comprising a magnetic material, whereby the accessory is received by and releasably attached to the central body region.
 15. A kit according to claim 13, further comprising an accessory comprising a golf ball marker comprised of magnetic material, whereby the golf ball marker is received by and releasably attached to the central body region.
 16. A kit according to claim 15, wherein the golf ball marker is substantially circular, the central body region is substantially circular.
 17. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the central body region is substantially circular, the first aperture region and the second aperture region are attached to the central body region, and the first aperture region is positioned about one hundred degrees on the central body region from the second aperture region.
 18. A kit according to claim 13, wherein: (a) the first aperture region and the second aperture region are comprised of polyvinyl chloride; (b) the central body region comprises polyvinyl chloride and includes a top surface; and (c) the magnet is positioned on the top surface of the central body region for receiving and releasably attaching to a magnetic accessory.
 19. A method of carrying a golf ball marker comprising the steps of: (a) providing a carrier apparatus comprising: (i) a central body region having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a magnetic material on the top surface, (ii) a first aperture region defining a first aperture, and having a top surface and a bottom surface, and (iii) a second aperture region defining a second aperture, and having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) providing a golf ball marker comprising a magnet; (c) positioning the ball marker on the top surface of the central body region, whereby the ball marker magnetically attaches to the magnetic material on the top surface of the central body region; (d) providing a shoelace for lacing into shoelace holes of a shoe, the shoelace having a first end and a second end; (e) inserting the first end of the shoelace over the top surface of the first aperture region and into the first aperture; (f) extending the shoelace across the bottom surface of the central body region; (g) positioning the first end of the shoelace across the bottom surface of the second aperture region and into the second aperture; (h) inserting the first end of the shoelace into a first shoelace hole of the shoe, and inserting the second end of the shoelace into a second hole of the shoe.
 20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of: (a) removing the ball marker from the central body region of the carrier apparatus to use the ball marker; and (b) reattaching the ball marker to the central body region after use. 